Just around the corner from my hotel, by Chinatown, is Wat Traimit, or the temple of the Golden Buddha.
The 15 foot tall seated Buddha weighs 5.5 tons and was made in the 13th century out of solid 83% pure gold. At some unknown time, it was covered with plaster and lacquer. The statue remained that way and everyone forgot there was gold underneath. It was moved to a temple that became unused and eventually abandoned in 1931.
In 1955 the statue was moved to Wat Traimit and during the move, the ropes broke, the statue fell, the plaster cracked and the gold was revealed.
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| Outside the temple |
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| Other temple building that does not have the Golden Buddha |
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| Door into the temple |
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| The Golden Buddha |
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| Chinatown Gate across from the temple |
Walking back to the hotel I walked past a massage parlor and had my first Thai massage. One hour for 200 Baht. That's about $5.80 USD. My first will not be my last!
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| Wat Traimit as seen from my hotel terrace |
I didn't know about that history! So cool!
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